With a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new artificial turf field and the general joviality of homecoming on tap, the McDowell Titans’ game against the Hickory Red Tornadoes Friday had all the makings of a festive occasion.

The Foothills Conference football season cranked up this week and the West McDowell Spartans put together an impressive opening performance, shutting out Walter Johnson Middle School 34-0 Wednesday afternoon.

The start of the Northwestern 3A/4A football season was very profitable for the McDowell Titans junior varsity football team as they put forward a strong collective effort, beating the Hickory Red Tornadoes 28-12 Thursday night at Frank Barger Stadium.

After suffering through a couple rough matches against the Northwestern 3A/4A’s best, the McDowell Lady Titans volleyball team bounced back with a three-game victory against the winless West Caldwell Lady Warriors Monday evening.

We are getting down to the final two weeks of the 2017 Major League Baseball regular season, and local product Greg Holland is in a familiar position: He’s looking at the opportunity to make MLB’s postseason for the third time in four seasons.

The McDowell Lady Titan golfers didn’t win any championships in 2016, but they finished on a high note, putting five players in the West Regional Tournament and placing third overall in their final season as part of the Mountain Athletic Conference.